Parnevik lights up at last

The cigar was a nice touch, given that the Americans would have expected something different from one of the game's celebrated…

The cigar was a nice touch, given that the Americans would have expected something different from one of the game's celebrated oddballs. But with his stovepipe slacks and flipped-up cap, there was no mistaking Jesper Parnevik as he strode to victory in the Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale on Sunday.

As it happened, Parnevik kept the cigar in his mouth, even while despatching the final, four-foot putt. And nobody would deny the colourful Swede his right to celebrate, having been runner-up on five occasions last year, including the British Open at Royal Troon.

Parnevik's breakthrough confirms the faith that Seve Ballesteros showed in him as a wild-card choice on Europe's Ryder Cup team last September. After his failure at Turnberry in 1994, and again at Troon, there were those who questioned his fortitude. But Ballesteros thought otherwise - and was proved to be correct.

It is a relevant point, given that Parnevik would be an obvious candidate for the 1999 matches at Brookline, where Europe will be defending the trophy. Though he was beaten 5 and 4 by Mark O'Meara in the singles at Valderrama, he had already contributed two points to the European cause with Per-Ulrik Johansson and Ignacio Garrido as partners.

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Since then, a change of rule means that only members of the European Tour will be eligible for the Brookline team - and that includes wild-card choices. Though Parnevik has insisted on committing himself to the American scene, it will not be unduly difficult for him to comply with the change.

Given his status in the game, he will already be competing in seven qualifying tournaments next season - the four majors and the three World Golf Championship events. So, he would need to play in only four European Tour ranking events to be eligible.

Meanwhile, he was understandably thrilled with his longawaited American victory. "Maybe the problem last year was that I forgot to put my winning cigar in my bag," he said. "I struggled with my driver during the final round, but was pleased with the way I played the last few holes."

Last January, the 32-year-old Swede was third behind John Cook in the Bob Hope Classic. He went on to finish runner-up to Steve Jones at Phoenix the following week and was tied fifth at Pebble Beach, before being runner-up again, this time in the Buick Invitational.

His third runner-up finish came in the Freeport McDermott Classic in early April, and, two weeks later, he filled the same position behind Nick Price in the MCI Classic at Hilton Head. Then came the crushing defeat by Justin Leonard at Royal Troon, where he had led the American by five strokes going into the final round.

The $450,000 winner's cheque at Phoenix has brought his earnings to $454,623 from only two tournaments so far this season, sending him to the top of the current money list. More significantly, his career earnings in the US have been boosted to $2,432,750 since joining the tour there only four years ago.

Meanwhile, Scottsdale was also fascinating for the performance of John Daly, who was easing himself back into serious competitive action. After a closing 71 for a total of seven-under-par, Daly said: "The last two years haven't been good for me and it's nice to be back."

He went on to say that his only overseas tournament appearance this year will be in the British Open at Royal Birkdale. "My confidence level is improving and hopefully I'm helping people by what I'm going through."

Another revealing performance in the Phoenix Open was by Tom Watson, who appeared to be putting beautifully on the way to a share of second place. Significantly, he shot a bogey-free final round of 66 and suggested that he remains a formidable competitor, eight months short of his 49th birthday.